Typewriting machine



" May 25 192s. 1,586,090

' A. G. F. KUROWSKI TYPE-WRITING MACHINE 'Filed July 22. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet? W %7 hVVENTOR.

W. v "ATTORNEY.

Patented May. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

man!) a. r. xonowsx r, or BROOKLYN, new YORK, assidnon 'ro unnnnwoon 'ryrnwm'ran COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. 2., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

'rxrnwnrrmc maonmn.

Application flIed July 22,

positions; to mechanism for locking the platen-frame in lower-case-position against rebound or accidental displacement; and to improved means for locking the platen-frame.

in middle or upper case positions. In a machine in which the platen is shiftable from lower-case-position to either a middle or an upper case-position, the-stop for determining the middle-case-position must, obviously, not interfere with movement of the platen to uppercase-position;

and so is ordinarily itself shiftable between an ineffective and an effective position. This shift of the stop has heretofore been effected by connections from the upper-case-shiftkey; the stop being moved by the uppercase-shift-lever to ineffective position to clear the way for the platen-frame when movement of the latter to upper-case-position is desired.

A feature of the present invention is to relieve the upper-case-slrift-key of the burden of suchstop-operating connections by v the rovision of a stop which is normally in ine ective osition and only becomes effective when t e middle-case-shift-key is oper-' ated.

- platen-frame is shiftable between case-positions, it is desirable to prevent rebound of the platen-frame after a case-shifting operation, so that the typing alignment will .not be disturbed. More particularly in ma- .chines of the so-called portable class, itis also desirable to have provision for locking the platen-frame a 'ainst shifting movements in the casing in w ich it is carried.

Another feature subsequent depres ion 'o .In typewriting machines in which they parts being broken away for clearer illus- 1922. Serial No. 576,662.

upper case positions, with improved locking devices singular to each shift-lever Each locking device in this instance includes a lock-arm pivotally mounted" on the shiftlever at an intermediate point thereof,.having an auxiliary operating or looking key, referably located .to the rear of the shiftever operating key, and a latch '01 lock within the frame capable of maintaining the platen-carriage in the shifted case-position. The auxiliary key is depressible by an finger-stroke practically unidirectional with that ordinarily required for the shiftkey orwriting keys, to operate the latch, 76 and the latch is, automatlcally returnable to its normal ineflLective osition by a slight f theshift-key. Other features and advantages will hereinafter appean,

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrates a machine of the portable type disclosed in Campbell Patents Nos. 1,332,972 and 1,433,935. Figure 1 is a side view, partly cross-sectional, of a typewriting machine embodying the invention. p

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fi ure 1, except that the parts are in 'midd e-caseposition.

Figure 3 is a'view similar to 1 and 2, with" the parts in-upper-case-position. a

Figure 4 is a top plan view,'certain of'the tration of other parts.-

- The machine herein lllustrated is of the v front-strike class; one of the type-bars 10,

carrying types 11, '12 and 13, being shown in printing position against the platen. The normal or lower-oaseposition of the platen is indicated at 14 full lines in Figure 1, and the middle and upper case-posrtions of the platen are indicated in dotted lines, at 15 and '16, respectivel The platen is journaled in a. sheet-meta carriage 17f which travels to'the left under the contro of the escapement-me'chanism (notshown),

i and lwhich is provided with roller-bearings at each .si e of the machine.

18 and 19, by means of which it travels on tracks ;20 and 21. The tracks Y20 and 21 form part of the'shift-frame, which also includes a downwardly-.extendin member 22 andforwardly-extending mem rs 23; the latter be pivoted, at 24, to links 25, one The links 25 .are. ivoted, at 26, to the main frame 27,

near y behind and somewhat below the normal positions of the pivots 24.

For guidingthe shift-frame in its movements between case-positions, there are provided, one at each side of the machine, other links or rock-arms :28, fast on a rock-shaft 29, journaledin the main frame of the machine, and extending transversely from side .--to side thereof. Each link 28, near its d1s and 33, fulcrumed on a rod 34, at therear cured by a screw3 tal end, carries a pin 3%, and the corre- Y spending side piece 23" o the shift-frame has a yoke or recess 31 formed therein, to receive the pin when the shift-frame is I properly set upon the links 28.

For moving the shift-frame between casepositions, there are provided two levers 32 of the machine,-and held in and returned to normal position by springs 35 and 36,,respectively. The springs .35 and 36 are soto the lower rear crosspiece 38 of the' main. frame, and at their distal 'ends 39 and 40, respectively, engage in openings in the shift-levers. The levers 32 and 33 are provided with keys 41 and 42,

respectively. Depression of the key 41 effects movement of the shift-frame to middie or capital case-position, anddepression corresponding interstioes thereof;

ofkey42 to upper or fi urecase posi'tion. The normal position of t e levers is determined by across-piece 43. in the frame at' the front .of the machine, above a front piece 71, which latter may be forined as a comb plate with the .key-levers' located in For effecting movement of frame, the lever 32, at an intermediate point I thereof, is provided with a laterally-projecting pin 44, adapted, upon depression of thelever, to engage the forwardk farm 45-of a lever 46, pivoted at 47 to an ear '48, turned .up from a bracket 49, on .a cross-tie 50 con-- nesting. the side plates of the main frame."- .An arm 51, forming" part of the lever 46,!

* extends rearward from the pivot Hand engages the under side of an ari'n 52,'turnedup from an'ear 53, which is set into and made fastto the rock-shaft 29.. The normal osition of the shift-frame 'is deter- 1111118 by screws 54, which pass through,

and are carried by, flanges 55, turned lat- "erally from the-side pieces 23 of the shift- 7 frame. The lower ends of these screws, by

contact with: the cross-piece. 50,. serve as stops, and the screws thus sup rt the shiftframe on the cross-piece 50 in ower-case-pdsition of the parts. By means of lock-nuts 56, the screws may be adjusted and set for the proper lower-case-position of the frame,

.and the frame be evenly supported at both parts an'drendering the action a light and easy one.

A hook or dog 57; forming a third and upwardly' extending arm of the lever, has a tooth 58 on the upper end thereof, which,

in the normal, Figure 1, position of the lever 46, and lower-case-position of the shift frame, projects over a tooth 59, formed on the end of the arm 52; and thus serves to hold the shift-frame locked down in lowercase-position, as well as the frame 23 and the carriage 17; the three members 28, 23

and 17 being connected in usual practice,

as shown in said patents. A sprin '60, attached at one end to the arm' 51 of t e lever 46, and at its other end-to a pin 61 set into I a member 62, which may be a part of the cross-tie 50, nori'nally holds the lever 46 in such position as' to maintain the tooth 58 in, efi'ective pesition over the tooth 59, and servesautomatically to cause the hook 57 to lock down the arm 52 when the'shiftframe returns to lowercase-position. The arm 51 is shown as' having play in a slot 63 in the member 62'. Thespring 60, by causing the forwardarm-45 of the lever 46 to Iowa upward, and by the engagement of hit shift;

the arm .45with the in '44. may serve to assist in the "return 0 the shift-lever 32 to normal position. Thev angular set of the hook or arm 57 is such-that, 'when the keylever 32' receives its initial .downward'move- :ment, the tooth 58 onthe arm 57 is moved from over the tooth 59 on the arm 52 before the arm 51 of the lever 46 begins toexert its-upward pressure on the arm 52. To insure-this preliminary disengagement of the 58 and '59, a slight clearance may be providedbetween .the arms 51 and 52 in their normal positions. The hook or look 57,.will prevent, undesirable movement and play of the shift-frame when the machine is being trans rted within its casing.

Throw of t e shift-frame beyond middlecase or capital-writin position, upon deof stop-arms 64,.one at each side of the machine and carried by or forming part of a bail comprising a cross-piece 65. The arms pressionof the key41, is prevented by means 64 and bail, of which they form a part, are pivoted, at 66, to the side members of the main frame 27. Each arm 64, at its upper end',-has an car 67, offset laterally therefrom, and each car 67 has adjustably set therein, by means of a lock-nut 68, a screw 69. As shown in Figure 1, a spring 70, attached at one end of the'cross-piece of the bail, and at its other end to the comb-plate or front piece 71 of the main frame, holds the bail in such angular position that the stopscrews 69 are out of the path of ears 72, ofiset laterally, one from each of the side plates 23 of the shift-frame. With the bail in its Figure 1 position, the shift-frame is free to rise past middle-case-position toupper-case-position. On movement of the bail with the arm 64 to Figure 2 position,

however. it will be noted that the stopscrews 69 will be brought into the path of theears 72, so that, upon arrival of the shift-frame at middle-case -position, it is arrested in such position. This movement of the bail with the arm.64:is desired only when the middle-case-shift-key 41 is depressed; and, for effecting such movement of the bail, the shift-lever 32 has formed thereon a finger 73, carrying a pin 74, movable in an arcuate slot in an car 76, formed on the bail. In the Figure 1 or lower-case position of the parts, the pin 74-is at the upper end oflthe slot 7 5. s the key 41 is Y depressed, however, the pin 74 traverses the slot 75 until it strikes the wall forming the lower end thereof, whereupon further movement of the lever 32 causes the bail and arm 64 to be rocked around their plvots 66 against the action ofthespring 70 until the stop-screws 69 are in the path of the cars 72 on .the shift-frame. This movement of the bail, of course, takes place before the movement of the shift-lever 32 has been sufii .ciently extensive to lift the shift-frame with the .ears 72 to Figure 2 position. For locking the shift-frame and shiftlever 32 in middle or capital case-position, there is pivoted at 77 on the lever 32, just inside the frame-piece 71, a lock-lever 78, having a finger-piece 79 on the forward end thereof, and having .ardog or detent 86, in this instance forming another arm thereof." A spring 81, attached at one *endto the lever 32, and at its other end to the arm Y '80 of the lock lever, normally-holds the latter in ineffective, Figure -1, position and returns the lock-lever to such position when free to do so. Depression of -the-lock-lever to Figure 2, position against the action' of the'spring 81', however, brings a tooth 82" on the lock-lever under a tooth 83 at the rear'of the front piece 71 within the main franie,,and-thereby causes the shift-lever 32 to be held downlagainst the aetionlof its return-spring '35 when the operator removes his finger from the vfinger piece 79' of the the lock-lever 78 to ineffective position, to

permit return of the shift-lever 32 when desired. Where the shift-frame is desired to be locked in middle-case-position, the shift-lever 32 may be operated by means of the finger-piece 79 on the lock-lever 78 in awell-known manner, that is to say, by having a tooth 78* on the lock-lever 78 offset over the top of the shift-lever 32, so that depression of the lock-lever causes the tooth 7 8? to engage and; depress the shift-1ever.. As shown in Figure -4,- the tooth 83 on the frame front-piece, which is engaged by the lock-lever-tooth 82, is formed at the end of a slot in a small interior horizontally disposed angular bracket or stop plate 82, in

which the. arm 80 of the lock-lever moves to and from effective position. An offset 7 8 on the lock-lever 78, byengagement with the under edge of the shift-lever 32, determines the normal or ineflective position of the ,lock-lever, and prevents overthrow of the same by thereturn-spring 81 of the latter.

For movement of the shift-frame to upper-case or figure-printing position, the lever 33 is employed. This lever, like the lever 32, has a pin 84, corresponding-to the pin 44,

projecting laterally over the arm 45 of the lever 46. Depression of the upper-case-key 42, therefore, adtuates the lever 46in exactlythe same way as does depression of the key 41, to cause thearm 51 on the lever 46, by engagement with the. arm 52 on the shiftframe-,.to lift thelatter, all as shown in Figure 3.- If the key 42 is operated when the parts are in Figure 1 position, the movement of the lever 46 first acts tounlock the shiftframe by moving the .tooth 58 from above the tc'ioth' 59. There is, howeverfno connectionbetween the lever 33 andthe bail which comprises the. stop-arms 64. Consequently, when the key 42 is operated, thebail remains in its normal, Figure 1, position, and does not interfere with the movement of the shift-' frame beyond middle-case-positionto uppercase-position. the shift-frame is determined by a 'pa ir of stops one at each side of ,the machinemon- .sisting of arms 85, fixedto the cross-piece 5Q,-and having-ears 86 offset on their upper ends; in which ears screws 87 are 'adjustably .set by meansv of lock-nuts'88. -As indicated" The npper-case-position of v in Figure 3, these screws 87 are in the path of flanges 89, ofl'set'from the lower edges of the side pieces 23 of the shift-frame, so that, when the shift-frame reaches its roper '5 upper-case-position, the flanges 89 strike the lower ends of the screws 87, and the shiftframe is arrested.

For locking the shift-frame in upper-caseposition, the shift-lever 33 is provided with a lock-lever 90, in construction and in oper- 29 movement between case-positions, an arm for effecting such movement of the platenframe, a finger on the arm at right angles to the arm, and a tooth on the finger engageable with the platen-frame to lock the same against movement when the platen-frame is in normal position.

2.111 a typewriting machine, a platen, a frame for the platen, movable from a lower case to a middle case and to an upper-caseposition, an arm for effecting such move- Wnents of the platen-frame, means on the arm for locking the platen-frame in-lower case-position when the arm is in normal position, a middle-case-shift-lever, an uppercase-shift-lever, and means whereby the arm may be operated by either of the shift-levers.

3. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a frame for the platen, movable from a lower case to a middle case and to an upper-caseposition, an arm for effecting such movements of the platen-frame, means on the arm for locking the platen-frame in lower-caseposition when the arm is in normal position,

a middle-case-shift-lever, an upper-caseshift-lever, means whereby the arm may be operated by either of the shift-levers, and means for automatically moving the arm to normal position to lock the platen-frame upon release of the shift-lever which has operated the arm.

4. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a

'' frame for the platen, movable from a lowercase to a middle case and to an upper-caseposition, a horizontally-disposed lever pivoted at an intermediate point thereof for engaging the platen-frame rearward of such pivot, to movethe frame between case-' positions, a middle-case-shift-lever and an upper-case-shift-lever, both engageable with the first-mentioned lever forward of the pivot of the first-mentioned lever, and a vertically-disposed finger on the first-mentioned lever, having a tooth thereon ior engage ment with the platen-frame to lock the latter in lower-case-position.

5.-In a-typewriting machine, a platen, a

frame for the laten, movable from a lower case to a mid e case and to an upper-caseposition, a horizontally-disposed lever pivoted at an intermediate point thereof, the arm of said lever rearward of its pivot being shaped for a rolling or cam engagement with the platen-frame, a middle-case-shiftlever, an upper-case-shift-lever, and means whereby the arm of the first-mentioned lever, forward of its pivot, is engageable by either of the last-mentioned levers to be operated thereby.

6. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a frame on which the platen is mounted for movement fromv lower-case-position to a middle-case-positiom and to an upper-caseposition, a pivoted stop-arm movable from an ineffective position to an effective position for arresting the platen frame in middle-case-position, means on the platen-frame engageable by said stop-arm in middle-caseposition, a middle-case-shift-lever, a pinand-slot connection between. the middle-caseshift-lever and the stop-arm for throwing the latter to effective position after a predetermined movement of'the middle-case-shiftlever, and for assuring the return of the stoparm to ineffective positionfand an uppercase-shift-Iever.

7 In a typewriting machine, a platen, a frameon which the platen ismounted for movement from lower-case-position to a middle-case-position and to an upper-caseposition, a pivoted stop-arm movable from an ineffective position to an effective position for arresting the platen-frame in middle-case-p0sition, means on the platen-frame engageable by said stop-arm in middle-caseposition, a middle-case-shift-lever, a pinand-slot connection between the midle-caseshift-leverand the stop-arm fox-throwing the latter to effective position after a predetermined -movement of the middle-caseshift-lever, and for assuring the return of the stop-arm to ineffective position, means for urging the stop-arm to ineffective position uponrelease of the middle-case-shiftlever, and an upper-case-shift-lever.

8. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a frame on which the platen is mounted for movement from lower-case-position to a middle-case-position' and to an upper-caseposition, a stop-lever pivoted at an intermediate point thereof movable from an ineffective position to an effective position for arresting the platen-frame in middle-caseposition, means on the platen-frame engageable by said stop-lever in middle-ca'se-position, a middlecase-shift-lever, a pin-ands lot connection frofn the middle-case-shiftlever to the lower arm of the stop-lever to cause the upper arm with the stop thereon to be swung to effective positionafter a.

' predetermined movement of. the middle- 7 frame on which the carriage travels and to which it is held, a swingable lifting frame pivotally connected to saidtrack frame, a pivoted lever having a work-arm to engage and move said lifting frame a latch to. engage said lifting frame and hold it and the platen in lower-case position, and a power arm to operate said lever and release said lifting 1 frame, a middle-case shift-lever to engage said power arm to operate said lever, and an upper-case shift-lever to engage said :power arm to operate said lever.

10. In a typewriting machine,- in combination,-a p1aten, a carriage therefor, a track frame on which said carriage travels a main frame in which said track frame is shiftable and comprising a cross-member, stop-members extending upwardly from said crossmember and havingportions to overlie portions of the track frame to limit its upward movement, a bracket extending forwardly "hf om said cross-member, a lever pi oted in t e forward end of said bracket, and having a rearwardly-extending work arm to lift the track frame and a forwardll -extending power arm, and middle-case an upper-case shift-levers to operate said lever through its the motion of the lockin power arm to shift the platen to middle-case and upper-case positions, respectively.

. 11. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen shiftable to diflerent positions to receive typings in different cases, a

traveling carriage therefor,a main framehaving a front wall with a projection on the rearv face thereof, a case-shift lever project ing forwardly beyond said front wall, and a locking lever pivoted on said case-shift lever just to the rear of said front ,wall and having a forwardly-extending operating arm with stops to engage the upper an lower edges of the case-shift lever to limit lever with relationto the shift-lever, an a fin erproject- I ing upwardly from the locking ever at its pivot adjacent said projection so that depression of the forward end of the locking ever will depress thecase-shift lever an cause the upper end of the finger to move bedepressed.

neath said projection to 'hO1d. the shift-lever 12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a main frame includlng a front comb, a case-shift frame and a caseshift lever, of a lock-lever pivoted for movement on said case-shift lever, said lock-lever frame an or, and a stopgaarrying an upstanding membercomprisingan angu I. operativeliy.

to one side of the front comb adjacent the upper edge thereof, said finger arranged to to one side of the front comb adjacent the upper edge thereof, said finger arranged to engage the under edge of the plate to cause said shift-lever to hold the shift-frame in an. upper-case position, and a spring connected to said upstanding finger and to the shiftlever. to throw the lock-lever to ineffective position upon pressure on the shift-lever sufcient to eliminate friction between the finger and the under edge of said stop-member. 14. In a typewriting'machine, the combination with a platen, a main frame including a front comb, a case-shift frame and a-caseshift lever, of a lock-lever pivoted'for movement on said case-shift lever, said -lever carrying an upstanding finger, and a stopmember comprising an angular plate secured to one side of the front comb. adjacent the upper edge thereof, said finger when depressed causing the fin'ger to first bear against the side of the plate and then slide w downwardly thereagainst to the lower edge of the plate, the finger then engagitn under said'loweredge to lock the shi -l ever in upper-case position.

15. In a typewritingmachine, the combination-with a platen, a main frame'including a front comb, a case-shift frame and a caseshift lever, of a lock-lever pivoted for movement on said case-shift lever,-said lock-lever carrying an upstandingfinger, a stop-member comprising an angular late secured to upon pressure on the shift-lever suflicient to,

ehminate friction between the finger and the under edge of said stop-member.

16. Inc. typewriti I frame supporting sai platen for case-shifting movement, a shift-lever fulcrumed at the rear of the machine, an intermediate member engageable with said platensaid shiftlever, member including provision for rolling conar plate secured tact with saidplaten-frame, and means desaid intermediate said finger when depressed machine, a platen, a

, pendent upon said intermediate member for ocking sa d platen-frame in normal case-position.

'17. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a frame supporting said platen for case-shifting movement, a plurality of case-shift levvers, each supported at the rear of the machine and having an effective downward movement, and a single intermediate member alternately enga eable by both of said case-shift levers,,sai intermediate member including provision for leverage changing rollin contact with'said platen-frame.

18. n a typewrit' machine, a platen, a frame supporting salid platen for case-shifting movement, and a triple-armed operator for effecting such movement, said operator including a lifting armengageable with said platen-frame, a power arm and a lock arm normally operative to revent movement of the. platen-frame, sai "lifting arm bein shaped to afford rolling contact with said platen-frame.

19. In a 'typewriti? machine, a platen, a frame supporting sai platen for cas'e-shift- 7 ing movement, and a triple-armed operator for eifecting such movement, said operator including a rearwardl extending lifting arm, a forwardly-extending power arm an an upwardly-extending lock arm, said lock arm being operative to prevent movement of said platen-frame when said lifting arm is inoperative, said lifting arm' having rolling contact with said platen-frame.

20. ha typewriting machine, a platen, a frame supporting said platen for movement from lower case to middle case and upper case positions, a middle-case shift-lever, an upper-case shift-lever, both of said shiftlevers having a fulcrum at the rear of the machine, an intermediate arm operatively engageable with both of said shift-levers and with said platen-frame, a lock on said intermediate arm normally preventing movement of the platen, a stop movable into operative position by said middle-case shift-lever, and a stop for limiting shifting movement to upper-case position.

ALFRED G. F. KUROWSKI. 

